Council gearing up for Belfast annexation

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Jeff Whitten
Bryan County News

POSTED:July 11, 2013 9:00 a.m.

Richmond Hill’s revision of its industrial zoning ordinances at the July 2 City Council meeting was the latest step in a plan to annex some 1,200 acres in South Bryan — including the Belfast Commerce Center and the future site of the I-95 and Belfast Siding interchange.It’s a move that could pay big dividends in the future, Richmond Hill mayor Harold Fowler said.“It really has enormous potential. For one thing, Richmond Hill will be the only city in the state with three interchanges,” he said. “And as the industrial park grows, there are going to be jobs for our kids so they do not have to move away from here. Hopefully, we’ll have jobs for them right here at home.”The land belongs to TerraPointe, which also owns a planned residential development in the area. The residential area will remain in the county rather than be annexed, Fowler said, noting the company wants the industrial park to be in the city because it can provide water and sewer. “We have the connections,” he said. He said the city has to develop an industrial and commercial base to help ease the tax burden on property owners, who currently carry some 70 percent of the load when it comes to paying for local government.